Dr. William Gunther, professor of economics and director of the University of Southern Mississippi’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research, talks about the economic outlook for south Mississippi, Thursday, during the university’s inaugural Economic Outlook Conference, on the Hattiesburg, Miss., campus. Several economists shared their insights and predictions for 2008 at the conference, which was attended by about 80 people. (Southern Miss Public Relations photo by Steve Rouse)

Dr. Thomas Cunningham, vice-president and associate director of research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, GA., looks over his notes Thursday, during the university’s inaugural Economic Outlook Conference, on the Hattiesburg, Miss., campus. Several economists shared their insights and predictions for 2008 at the conference, which was attended by about 80 people. (Southern Miss Public Relations photo by Steve Rouse)